08/17/2026
We posted Friday about the grant from the Community Trust Foundation and how it will help renovate the Garden in the Corner to the Jane Avery Memorial Garden. We are thrilled to announce that we were also awarded a $25,000 grant from Lowe's, through the dedicated work of Lori Richards and the Community Works volunteers. Lori has been an incredible advocate for this project and wrote this grant, as well as the one from the Community Trust Foundation, and has done all the follow-up work required. The board of directors can not thank her and the other volunteers from Community Works and the Mountain Laurel Garden Club for all they've done and will continue to do to make this garden something truly special. Please see the press release below about this amazing grant and how Lowe's is using its standing to help other communities like ours. If you would like to donate specifically toward this project, please make checks payable to Our Town Theatre, 121 E. Center St., Oakland, MD 21550, and write "Memorial Garden" in the memo line.
Loweâs Invests in Local Garrett County Project to Renovate the
Jane Avery Memorial Garden
Three Garrett County non-profit organizations are thrilled to announce that their community project has been selected to receive a $25,000 grant from Loweâs, as part of its Community Impact Program.
The grant will support the renovation of the Memorial Garden at the Our Town Theatre in Oakland. The Garden was originally created by Jane Avery, the founder and former artistic director of the Theatre and a popular local schoolteacher, as a quiet place to remember local children and others lost too soon. Over the years, it became weathered, overgrown and unused.
Then, three local non-profit groups - Our Town Theatre, Mountain Laurel Garden Club and Community Works Garrett County - agreed to partner together to restore the Garden. Garden Club co-presidents and Master Gardeners Deborah Hutton and Barb Davis are designing the new space, complete with a restored memorial wall, native plants and stone benches.
The project kicked off this spring when Community Works volunteers cleared overgrown shrubs, vines and weeds. The grant is part of Lowe's Community Impact Program, which funds large-scale projects for nonprofit and community organizations to help them check off bucket-list renovation projects. The Program is part of Loweâs five-year, $100 million commitment to revitalizing and restoring hometowns across the country.
This year, there were over 5,000 nominations for 100 Community Impact grants. Mikey Virts, Director of the Theatre said âWeâre honored to have Loweâs support in helping to make our vision a reality â restoring the Jane Avery Memorial Garden as a quiet and welcoming space in the community again.â Lori Richards of Community Works added âOur local Loweâs team will be indispensable in completing this project, along with talented local contractors and community volunteers. Stay tuned for updates on our progress along the way!â
The Garden restoration is funded entirely by donations and grants, also including a generous grant from the Community Trust Foundation.
More information about the Community Impact program is at: Loweâs Community
Bucket List . Visit Lowes.com/HowWeHelp and follow on
social media to learn more about each of the 2026 Community Impact projects.
Each addresses local needs â from reviving outdoor spaces to expanding food
pantries, restoring shelters and safe housing, and renovating facilities for first
responders and veterans.
We make a difference by supporting our communities, providing disaster relief & more. Learn about the 10 Million Sq Ft of Impact initiative at Loweâs.
